Adventurer of Many Professions

"Hey, Raymond, don't you have anything to say?" Sylph's voice was a mix of impatience and pride as she looked at him, arms crossed, her nose wrinkling slightly in distaste as he slipped the severed mutant rat ears into his leather pouch.

Raymond looked up from his task, meeting her green eyes. There was something expectant in her gaze; a spark, almost childlike, that clearly wanted recognition. He held back a smirk, thinking, 'So, she really wants to be praised for that? She's still just a kid at heart.'

But, in truth, he owed her some credit. If it hadn't been for her quick reflexes and willingness to swing that wand, the rat might have done real harm. He gave her an approving nod. "Good job, Sylph. You really held your own."

A triumphant grin spread across her face as she tossed her hair back, looking immensely pleased. "Ha! I know, right? You're lucky to have me on your team. Not only am I a magician with powerful Explosion Magic, but I can also handle myself up close!" She finished with a little arrogant huff, as if her victory had been a foregone conclusion.

Raymond chuckled, not indulging her further, and turned his attention back to the fallen mutant rats around them, lost in thought. The recent skirmish had brought a stark realization; fighters, by nature, were meant for close combat. But here, fighting mutant rats in such close quarters, he was acutely aware of the risks. These creatures were crawling with disease, and every punch or kick he delivered meant coming dangerously close to infection. Not to mention the splatter; every hit sent bits of gore and blood flying, and he'd had to be careful not to let anything hit his eyes or any exposed skin.

It was becoming clear that relying solely on his fists in these conditions was more of a hazard than he'd anticipated. If he had been a warrior or a swordsman, wielding a weapon like a sword, he could have maintained some distance, avoiding the direct contact that fighters had no choice but to endure.

'If only I could awaken as a warrior,' he thought. 'That would make things a lot easier.' Warriors wielded a range of weapons, and the awakening requirement was simple enough: kill ten monsters using any ordinary weapon. It was the kind of goal that seemed within reach, especially now.

His gaze fell to his gloved fists, and a thought struck him. The requirement didn't specify which weapon he had to use, which meant his boxing gloves might just count as "ordinary weapons." And the requirement didn't specify the type of monster either. Could these mutant rats qualify as monsters?

His heart raced as he opened his career panel, his eyes scanning through his stats with a growing sense of anticipation.

"Name: Raymond Kelton."

"Age: 15."

"Magic Value: 104.3/104.3."

"Occupation: Fighter."

"Skills: None."

"Skill Points: 0. Cumulative Value: 40%."

"Awakenable Professions:

[Warrior] - Awakening Requirement: Kill ten monsters using ordinary weapons. Progress: 4/10."

Raymond's eyes widened as he processed the information. Not only did these mutant rats count toward his awakening progress, reaching 4 out of 10, but he noticed a boost in his stats. His magic value had increased significantly since the morning, from 100.3 to 104.3, a full four-point jump in just a few hours. It was far from the usual incremental growth he'd seen before.

'I killed four mutant rats… and my magic power increased by four points. This boost must be tied to defeating the mutant rats!'

His gaze returned to the panel, realizing that his skill point accumulation had also jumped from 0% to 40%, meaning each mutant rat he killed had granted him an additional 10% toward skill progression.

'One rat, one magic point, and 10% skill progress…' Raymond's mind whirled with the implications. If he continued, he could not only push toward his warrior awakening but also significantly boost his magic and skills in the process. The sewer was disgusting, sure, but now it was starting to look like a treasure trove of potential.

"Raymond, are you just going to stand there all day?" Sylph's voice cut through his thoughts, her tone impatient as she watched him staring off, seemingly lost. "If you've had enough of these mutant rats, we might as well head back."

He looked at her, a newfound excitement shining in his eyes. "Actually… I think we should keep going. There's more to gain down here than I realized."

She raised an eyebrow, a mix of curiosity and exasperation crossing her face. "More to gain? We're in a sewer, fighting disgusting mutant rats. What could possibly be worth staying?"

He gave her a half-smile, his mind already calculating his next move. "Let's just say, I have a feeling these rats are going to make us a lot stronger than we expected. Stick with me a bit longer, and I promise you'll see what I mean."

Sylph sighed, rolling her eyes but nodding in agreement. "Alright, fine. But if another one of those things jumps at me, I'm blasting it to pieces; no questions asked!"

Raymond chuckled, feeling a surge of confidence as he secured his pouch and tightened his gloves. "Fair enough. Let's see what else this sewer has to offer." With renewed purpose, he led the way, ready to face whatever lay in the shadows ahead, every step bringing him closer to the warrior he knew he could become.

Sylph couldn't hide her discomfort any longer. The foul stench and filthy surroundings of the sewer made her skin crawl. She felt nauseated just standing there, every fiber of her being screaming to escape this horrible place. But she had come down here to prove herself, to show she could handle this just as well as any adventurer. She wouldn't back out now, not with Raymond watching.

Trying to mask her unease, she forced a determined expression and declared, "No, I want to keep going. I want to kill these rats too!"

Raymond looked at her, his eyes glinting with newfound resolve. "Good, because I plan to kill ten of them today."

"Ten?" Sylph raised an eyebrow, her face scrunched in confusion. "Why exactly ten?"

"Let's go," Raymond replied, avoiding the question. He had no intention of explaining his goal just yet. He knew that if he could kill six more mutant rats, he'd fulfill the requirements to awaken as a [Warrior] and even gain his first skill point. With skill points, he could finally start learning skills, something he was determined to achieve.

As they pressed on, Raymond found himself glancing at Sylph with a hint of admiration. Despite her noble background and her apparent discomfort, she had a real talent. In less than a year, she had already mastered Explosion Magic, a feat that even seasoned mages struggled with. According to Freya, it often took the average person two to three years to grasp their first skill. Only a true genius could do it within a year, and here was Sylph, already wielding such a powerful spell. He couldn't deny her talent, even if her personality could be… challenging.

'One day,' Raymond thought with determination, 'I'll be considered a genius too. But first, let's finish off these rats.'

…

"Guga!" A mutant rat screeched as Raymond's boot connected with its side, sending it flying across the sewer.

Raymond had grown adept at dealing with these creatures. He'd learned to keep his distance, striking them with powerful kicks rather than engaging too closely. Not only did this minimize the risk of them lunging at him, but it also spared him from the disgusting splatter of blood and bits of flesh that came with close-contact punches. He'd have to thoroughly wash and disinfect his boots later, but that was a small price to pay.

He retrieved his dagger, bent down, and sliced off the rat's ears, adding them to his growing collection in the leather bag.

"That makes nine," Sylph said from behind, keeping track for him.

They'd encountered five mutant rats along the way, each one dispatched by Raymond. At one point, they'd even faced a trio of them, but he had learned from their earlier encounters and kept the rats from slipping past him toward Sylph. Despite her bravado and some close-combat skills, Sylph wasn't equipped to deal with these creatures up close, and Raymond didn't want any accidents.

As they continued down the tunnel, Sylph's excitement grew. "Only one more to go! How about letting me take out the last one with Explosion Magic?"

"No," Raymond said firmly, not even glancing her way.

She pouted, clearly annoyed. "Why not? We're at nine, and there's just one left. Once we kill it, we'll be done, and I haven't even had a chance to really do anything!"

Raymond sighed, fighting off a headache as he turned to her with a serious expression. "I said I want to kill ten. Once I finish off the tenth one, then you're free to use your Explosion Magic however you want."

She looked at him skeptically, but then shrugged, satisfied with his promise. "Fine, then it's a deal!" She grinned, clearly already imagining the impressive show of her magic when the time came. 'Just wait, Raymond,' she thought. 'I'll show you what real power looks like.'

They continued moving forward, but soon, Raymond stopped abruptly, his face tense.

"Raymond, what's wrong?" Sylph asked, peering over his shoulder to see what had caught his attention.

The moment she looked ahead, her face turned pale. There, sprawled in the middle of the tunnel, was the grotesque, half-eaten body of a massive mutant rat, clearly killed by its own kind. The sight was horrific, its fur matted with blood, its body partially decomposed, and the remnants of its flesh crawling with parasites. The smell was beyond revolting, a rancid mixture of decay and sewer stench that filled the tunnel.

Sylph's stomach churned, and before she could stop herself, she ran to a corner, tore off her makeshift mask, and began retching violently. Her entire body shook as she leaned against the wall, heaving uncontrollably, her face a shade of green.

Raymond watched, feeling a twinge of sympathy mixed with amusement. 'So much for the fearless mage,' he thought. But he knew better than to make a comment. He waited patiently as she recovered, giving her a moment to catch her breath, her face still etched with horror.

After a few moments, Sylph wiped her mouth, her expression turning to one of fierce determination as she looked up at him. "Let's… let's finish this," she said, voice shaky but resolute. "The sooner we're done, the sooner we can get out of here."

Raymond nodded, respecting her tenacity, and adjusted his grip on his dagger. "Right. Just one more to go." He glanced down the darkened tunnel, already anticipating the battle to come. Together, they pressed forward, ready to face whatever horrors the sewer had left in store.